Using Social Media to Advocate Against the $1.3 Billion Cut

Using Social Media to Advocate

Advocacy Alert Objective: Tweet and Facebook Members of Congress to tell them how you feel about proposed cuts to the Health Centers Program funding!

Twitter: Visit NACHC’s Members of Congress Twitter list to see if your U.S. Representative is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NACHC/members-of-congress or look up Members on TweetCongress.org.  Even if your U.S. Representative isn’t on Twitter, you can still tweet to @SpeakerBoehner and @GOPLeader 

Congressman Billy Long, 7th Congressional District of Missouri, can be contacted via Twitter at @auctn1 and his Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Billy-Long-For-Congress/225418785297?v=wall

When you copy the following tweets, be sure to also include the http address.  That leads to websites with detailed information. Either add or substitute @auctn1 with @SpeakerBoehner 

Sample tweets to send:

@SpeakerBoehner Where will our health center patients go when health centers have to close? http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact #fqhc

@SpeakerBoehner Where will our health center patients go when health centers have to stop seeing 11 MILLION patients? http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact #fqhc

@SpeakerBoehner House Republicans said they would fight for jobs and economy, but you are cutting jobs: http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact #fqhc #jobs

@SpeakerBoehner What about your #Pledge for jobs? A Health Centers Program cut is a cut to jobs AND cost efficient care http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact #fqhc #jobs

@SpeakerBoehner #Pledge for jobs? Why are you cutting the Health Centers Program that had an economic impact of $19,935,197,61 in 2009? #jobs #economy

@SpeakerBoehner #Pledge for jobs? Why are you cutting the Health Centers Program that employs more than 200,000 in LOW INCOME communities? #jobs #economy

@SpeakerBoehner How is cutting care for 11 million patients - who will in turn go to EXPENSIVE emergency rooms! - fiscally responsible? #fqhc #pledge

@SpeakerBoehner I am very disappointed in the House Leadership's decision to cut jobs and cut access to cost efficient care at Health Centers #fqhc #jobs

Facebook: See if your U.S. Representative is on Facebook by checking the direct search and comment on their page.

In addition to commenting on your U.S. Representative’s Facebook wall, you should also comment on House Speaker John Boehner’s page, Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s page, the House Republicans’ page, and the Pledge to America page.  You must comment to a wall post; if you try to post to the wall, in most cases your post will not be seen publicly.

  In addition to posting your own personal commentary about what the real effects of this cut will mean to your health center, the patients you serve, and your community, here are some sample Facebook comments

Where will our health center patients go when health centers have to close? http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact

 Where will our health center patients go when health centers have to stop seeing 11 MILLION patients? http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact

 House Republicans said they would fight for jobs and economy, but you are cutting jobs: http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact

 What about your Pledge for jobs? A cut to the Health Centers Program is a cut to jobs AND cost efficient care: http://bit.ly/FQHCimpact

 Pledge for jobs? Why are you cutting the Health Centers Program that had an economic impact of $19,935,197,61 in 2009?

 Pledge for jobs? Why are you cutting the Health Centers Program that employs more than 200,000 in LOW INCOME communities?

 How is cutting care for 11 million patients - who will in turn go to EXPENSIVE emergency rooms! - fiscally responsible?

 I am very disappointed in the House Leadership's decision to cut jobs and cut access to cost efficient care at Health Centers

 The Pledge to America states, "Rising joblessness, crushing debt, and a polarizing political environment are fraying the bonds among our people and blurring our sense of national purpose."  Why are House Republicans cutting jobs at Health Centers, which are already located in low income, underserved communities?  Because of the $1.3 billion cut to the Health Centers Program for FY 2011, 127 health centers will close.  These 127 health centers employ 7,434 individuals.  They also provide the MOST cost efficient health care to more than 3 million patients, who would otherwise be forced to either go without care or seek it at costly emergency rooms.  I would like a response on how this cut is helping to better America's job situation and the economy.

 The Pledge to America states, "Joblessness is the single most important challenge facing America today. Jobs are the lifeblood of our economy, and for our workforce, there is no substitute for the pride and dignity that comes with an honest day’s work and a steady paycheck."  I agree, jobs are the lifeblood of our economy.  Congress must work on good legislation to save jobs.  So why are House Republicans cutting jobs at Health Centers, which are already located in low income, underserved communities?  Because of the $1.3 billion cut to the Health Centers Program for FY 2011, 127 health centers will close.  These 127 health centers employ 7,434 individuals.  They also provide the MOST cost efficient health care to more than 3 million patients, who would otherwise be forced to either go without care or seek it at costly emergency rooms.  I would like a response on how this cut is helping to better America's job situation and the economy.